Congressmen stick noses in Nevada ranch dispute

They've seen fit to send a letter to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell asking her to have the BLM stand down in its dispute with rancher Cliven Bundy. Bundy, after running his cattle for free on public land for 20 years, defying repeated legal decisions finding him in trespass, is declaring that he doesn't recognize the authority of the federal government and he is hosting armed, outside agitators to turn up the heat in this conflict. Now he's also got two outside agitator congressmen supporting his freeloading.

If Pearce and Salmon were really sincere in their statements to Jewell that they want "cooler heads to prevail" and a "non-violent resolution to this disagreement," they would have, at the very least, sent a parallel letter to Bundy, telling him to send his armed fans home and to reduce the threat of gunfire that his inflammatory rhetoric has implied. Instead, Pearce and Salmon chose to make a public move to "blame it on the feds," a transparent bid for support among the anti-government folks, but not one that has any real intent to solve the problem.

Surely there are enough problems to be resolved in New Mexico's second congressional district to keep Rep. Pearce busy without his having to gratuitously intrude into Nevada's problems.

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Tom Vaughan, Silver City

Increase standards for conservation district elections

We voted early at Good Sam on April 4 and waited 20 minutes before 8:30 a.m. I walked over to deposit my ballot, carrying it upside down. Guess who was the "poll watcher" at the side of that single ballot machine, carefully close enough to see the vote of anyone who hadn't put their ballot upside-down? Why Joe Delk, with his name tag on! The head of the agency who had a very personal interest in the outcome of this election was a poll watcher.

I then watched two voters with right side up ballots approach the machine. Yes, Joe was right there, smile and all. Talk about being astounded. I went home and called the county wanting to understand. In the midst of the madhouse at the county building, a staff member took his time and was quite helpful. I learned a lot of unexpected stuff.

It was legal for Mr. Delk to be there. Why? Soil and Water Conservation District election rules are apparently not the same as those for regular elections. I even understand there were negotiations to get more than just one voting location - at the county building - in Dona Ana County

This approach for certain elections is wrong. The Agriculture and Ranching statutes, Title 1, Chapter 9, Part 3 must be amended for consistency with general election rules. I call on our local representatives and senators - from both parties - to voice this concern to their upstate colleagues and current candidates for the 2014 election locally for the 2015-16 legislature. This is a minor fix, though nothing is such in Santa Fe. Move an amended SWCD election statute in Santa Fe next year.

Jerry Nachison, Las Cruces

Push for safer policies around fracking

There is much debate about the dangers and benefits surrounding the fracking industry in the United States. Some people may be weary of the back and forth between environmental activists and oil and gas industry representatives, however when it comes to the air, water and land we depend on, we must continue to push for safe policies and procedures.

One aspect of fracking acknowledged by both sides is the vast amount of fresh water it requires. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire state of New Mexico has been in various states of drought for years, yet there is no sign that the fracking industry is slowing down. Some towns near fracking sites are coming dangerously close to running out of water completely. People in Barnhart, Texas, are already experiencing the shock of dry faucets in their homes.

Many of New Mexico's fracking sites are located in Eddy County, also the home of several borderland communities known as colonias. Colonias, by definition, lack proper infrastructure, including access to drinkable water. If the fracking trend continues as is, it stands to desecrate the most vulnerable among us, while benefiting the most powerful.

We must continue to ask a number of pressing questions. Is fracking wise in a time of such severe drought? Can we afford to gamble with the precious little water we have to live on? Who will ultimately benefit from this process? Will the oil and gas industry use their profits to refund the livelihoods of New Mexico farm workers? Will they restore the dignity of the people who go without water to bathe in? Will they offer a new homeland to the people who have to leave if the area dries up? And if not, who will speak up against them?